The Jacksonville Jaguars continue to invest in their offensive line.
The Jags signed center Brandon Linder to a five-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday. The extension is worth $51.7 million, with $24 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, according to a source informed of the deal.
The extension makes Linder the highest-paid center in NFL history, per Rapoport.
"It means the world to me," Linder said in a statement. "I'd love to play here my whole career. I fell in love with this city and we have big things coming, changing the culture, and now we start tomorrow for training camp. I couldn't think of a better place to play my career."
The former third-round pick was entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Linder moved to center in 2016, where he shined as one of the best young players at the position. Pro Football Focus rated Linder as their No. 5 center last season.
The 25-year-old excelled at guard as a rookie in 2014 before missing most of his second season due to injury. The switch to center went seamlessly last season, making it a no-brainer for the cap-space flush Jags to lock down their young blocker for the long-haul.
